Most agencies get stuck with 30% margins because retainers rely on headcount....

https://www.a1bookmarks.win/most-seo-agencies-are-stuck-in-a-service-trap-that-keeps-margins-around-30

Most agencies get stuck with 30% margins because retainers rely on headcount. If you treat your agency like a lab to turn workflows into software, you can push margins past 70%. It is time to stop selling hours and start building your own tools.